August 26_ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- He was born in New York and raised in Southern California. But Felix Sanchez always felt the Dominican Republic in his heart.

Felix Sanchez crosses the finish line during his goal medal run

His parents were born there. A Dominican flag always hung in his home. And he knew competing for the tiny Caribbean nation would mean more to him, his family and the people there than if he was just another hurdler for the United States.

So Sanchez decided to represent the Dominican Republic in 1999. On Thursday night, he gave the country its first Olympic gold medal with his victory in the 400-meter hurdles, winning in 47.63 seconds to keep his three-year unbeaten streak alive.

Danny McFarlane of Jamaica won the silver medal in 48.11 seconds. Naman Keita of France won the bronze in 48.26 seconds.

After Sanchez crossed the line, he threw his head back with a look of relief then clasped his hands together. Someone gave Sanchez a Dominican flag and an olive wreath and he walked along the side of the track, waving to fans.

Sanchez posing shortly after receiving the goal medal

"It's a feeling of pride every time I step on the track, knowing I have a lot of Dominicans following me,'' said Sanchez, who still lives and trains in California. ``Now hopefully I can push the movement in athletics. We've come a long way since I first competed in 1999.''

The impoverished country of 8.8 million people first participated in the Olympics in the 1964 Tokyo Games. Its only other medal came in 1984, when boxer Pedro Julio Nolasco won bronze in Los Angeles.

On Thursday, joyous Dominicans ran into the streets in Santo Domingo, honked car horns and waved flags to celebrate the golden victory.

President Leonel Fernandez and other government officials watched the race on a large-screen television at the National Palace. The president led a toast afterward, which was broadcast on Dominican television.

Sanchez started competing in track in high school when he couldn't try out for the baseball team because of a broken wrist. At first, Sanchez hated it. But that made him want to keep going, so he could improve and show the coaches he could be a star.

He won the NCAA title in 2000 with Southern California, but only made it to the semifinals in the Olympics later that year. Felix brought home a flashing wristband as a souvenir from Sydney, as a reminder of how far he needed to go to win gold.

His world dominance started soon after that. Sanchez has not lost since July 2, 2001. In between, he has won two world championships, the Pan Am Games in 2003 and now Olympic gold.

He said he will never wear the wristband again.

"I want to go back (to the Dominican Republic) and share this medal with them,'' Sanchez said. ``Hopefully this won't be the only medal we get.''

Sanchez was tested in Thursday's race. American James Carter applied some early pressure, but Sanchez overtook him in the final turn and then put on a burst of speed after clearing the final hurdle, easily outpacing the field.

Carter faded badly to fourth in 48.58, while U.S. teammate Bennie Brazell was last in 49.51.

"I felt the pressure of Carter -- he said it was his medal to win, he said he was going to beat me,'' Sanchez said. "But he forgot about the rest of the medalists.''

Sanchez does not regret his decision to compete for the Dominican Republic, which came after he finished sixth at the 1999 U.S. championships. Each time he goes back to visit, fans mob him and his star power grows.

The United States has lobbied to get him to switch allegiances. At the U.S. trials last month in Sacramento, USA Track & Field chief executive officer Craig Masback saw Sanchez at the track and said, "You could run for us. It would be real easy to put USA on your chest,'' Sanchez remembers.

"But it was never an option,'' he said. "I'm content and happy with what I achieved for the Dominican Republic.''